Man who threw drugs into Stoke Heath jail gets suspended sentence
A man who was caught throwing drugs over a fence into a jail near Market Drayton has been handed a suspended prison term.
Jamie Worrall threw cannabis with a street value of about £1,800 into Stoke Heath prison last month, Shrewsbury Crown Court heard.
The court was told that the 30-year-old had been ordered to do it by a drug dealer who had threatened to set his home on fire.
Mr Howard Searle, prosecuting, said Worrall was caught after authorities received intelligence that there might be a "throw over".
Officers saw a car pull up and Worrall get out.
Mr Searle said he was wearing an article of clothing to suggest he was a worker of some sort.
The court heard he walked across a field before throwing a parcel into the prison grounds.
The parcel was intercepted before it could be found by any of the prisoners.
Mr Searle said it contained cannabis which had a street value of £1,800, but would be worth much more inside the prison.
He told the court that Worrall had carried out the act to clear a drug debt.
Worrall, of Walwen House, Bagillt, Clwyd, admitted conveying a prohibited article to the prison during an earlier court hearing.
Mr Robert Edwards, representing Worrall, told the court he had turned his life around since being released from prison.
Judge Jim Tindal said Worrall had previously served time in jail for a drugs offence.
Sentencing Worrall, he told him: "The reality of the situation is you were doing excellent in your supervision on licence until the real villains of this story threatened your family.
"You owed a drug debt."
He said prior to him throwing the drugs into the prison a car was set alight outside his home.
Judge Tindal added: "You were told by a drug dealer if you throw a packet over the fence your drug debt would be cleared.
"If not, the next thing to be set on fire was your house."
But he told Worrall he was prepared to suspend a prison sentence.
He said: "If probation trust you, and they know you, then I trust probation and therefore I trust you.
"If you are approached again by any of the people that threatened your family, then you go to the police."
Judge Tindal handed him a two year prison sentence, suspended for two years.
Worrall was also ordered to complete a rehabilitation activity requirement, which will focus on further supporting him in the community.
